[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 22 (Friday, February 1, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 7387]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-02170]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Marketing Service
[Docket No. AMS-DA-08-0031; DA-08-05]
Continuation of 2008 Farm Bill--Dairy Forward Pricing Program
AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA) extended the
authorization of the Dairy Forward Pricing Program contained in the
Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill), through
September 30, 2013. This document provides notice that producers and
cooperative associations of producers may enter into forward price
contracts under the Dairy Forward Pricing Program through September 30,
2013, as provided for in the Final Rule published October 31, 2008 (73
FR 64868). The 2008 Farm Bill initially prohibited new forward
contracts from being entered into after September 30, 2012, and no
forward contracts entered into under the program extending beyond
September 30, 2015. However, passage of the ATRA that was signed into
law on January 2, 2013, revised the program to allow new contracts to
be entered into until September 30, 2013. Any forward contract entered
into up and until the September 30, 2013, deadline is still subject to
the September 30, 2015, cutoff date to meet the terms of the contract.
DATES: Effective Date: February 1, 2013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roger Cryan, Director, Economics
Division, USDA/AMS/Dairy Programs, Stop 0229-Room 2753-S, 1400
Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20250-0231, (202) 720-7091,
email address: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Dairy Forward Pricing Program (73 FR
64868) allows producers and cooperative associations of producers to
voluntarily enter into forward price contracts with handlers for milk
used for Class II, III, or IV purposes under the Agricultural Marketing
Agreement Act of 1937 (AMAA), (7 U.S.C. 601 et seq). The program also
allows handlers regulated under the Federal milk marketing order
program to pay producers and cooperative associations in accordance
with the terms of a forward contract and not have to pay the minimum
Federal order blend price for producer milk. This program was initially
established in accordance with the 2008 Farm Bill (H.R. 6124, Pub. L.
110-246). The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA), (H.R. 8,
Pub. L. 112-240), extended the authorization of the Dairy Forward
Pricing Program contained in the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of
2008 (the 2008 Farm Bill) (H.R. 6124, Pub. L. 110-246) through
September 30, 2013.
The program authorizes that under the AMAA, milk handlers pay
producers or cooperative associations of producers a negotiated price,
rather than the Federal order minimum blend price for producer milk if
subject to conditions and terms of a forward contract, provided the
volume of such milk does not exceed the handler's Class II, III, and IV
utilization for the month on the order that regulates the milk. The
program applies to producer milk regulated under Federal milk marketing
orders that is not classified as Class I milk or milk otherwise
intended for fluid use and that is in the current of interstate or
foreign commerce or directly burdens, obstructs, or affects interstate
or foreign commerce of Federally regulated milk. The Federal milk
marketing order program consists of 10 Federal milk marketing orders (7
CFR parts 1001-1131).
Dated: January 29, 2013.
Rex A. Barnes,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-02170 Filed 1-31-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-02-P